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ONBOUGE! WE'RE ONTHE
MOVE
BIBLIOTHEQUE-LIBRAR Y
contractor. "It was also essential to bring together
disparate groups: citizens, librarians, architects and
the WMA (Westmount Municipal Association)."
Contractor Sam Aberman was one of several
experts pulled into the project when particular
expertise was required. He joined the steering
committee for the period when important contracts
were being negotiated "so we wouldn't overpay,"
Mayor Trent says. Later, library consultant Aaron
Cohen, of New York, would be hired for advice on
functional layout and shelving while architect Julia
Gersovitz would be brought into the restoration
phase for urgent assistance with decor and
interior design.
At this time, architect Michel Languedoc was
hired to form a consortium with original architect
Peter Rose. His firm of Tétreault, Parent, Languedoc
et Associés had a reputation for completing projects
on budget and on schedule. "We couldn't have
done it without TPL," says Councillor Bridgman.
"This was a big, big project and the last thing we
wanted was for it not to get done."
At the city council meeting of November 1,
1993, a contract was approved retaining the profes-
sional services of Rose and TPL for $440,000. The
contract featured a cap on fees including re-design
work as well as liaison between the consortium and
the city's Architectural and Planning Commission.
With the closing of the year, major components
of the project were in place. The lease for temporary
quarters of the adult collection was concluded and
plans to relocate the children's department to
Victoria Hall were underway. The big move lay
ahead.
COUNTDOWN TO CONSTRUCTION
"It's a very tight schedule, with only 13 months
for construction and renovation," said library
director Caroline Thibodeau during an interview in
March 1994. Layout had just been finalized the
week before and there was an atmosphere of
apprehension in the library. It was only one month
until moving day for the adult and reference
collections. She spoke calmly but it was clear that
no one could imagine exactly how the thousands of
books could possibly be packed, relocated, shelved
and ready for business again a week later.
As she spoke, modifications were under way at
the new quarters, 4221-4225 St. Catherine Street at
the comer of Olivier Avenue. Public works crews
used 32 gallons of recycled paint. Previously
housing the Westmount Post Office, it was one of
few vacant sites that could support the weight of the
books. The area, some 9,765 square feet at ground
level, was leased by the city from May 1, 1994, to
September 30, 1995, with right to occupy February
1, and an option to extend (which ultimately was
used). The rent of $13.95 per square foot, a total
of $192,980, would be paid from the city's operat-
ing budget.
Soon a long banner appeared along Sherbrooke
Street in front of the library. The slogan said it all:
On bouge! We're on the move!
As soon as the library
closed April 18 for book-packing time, the large
moving trucks from Baillargeon, Breton & Associés
became a familiar sight in Library Drive throughout
the next few days. It took 80 truck loads to trans-
port an estimated 3,500 cartons of books loaded
and unloaded by a crew of 25.
"We did a lot of laughing," the library director
recalls. "But it was more rueful than hysterical."
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